PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 212, 18 September 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON. Monday. Ix reply to Mr Sheehan Mr McLean saiil the Bill to remedy defects in Aetb relating to Maori lands on the East Coast would do away with joint tenancy, The Stewarts island Orantu bill and the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. They were then committed, read a third time, and passed. The Whanganui River Foreshore Grant Bill, and the Diseased Cattle Act Amendment Bill were committed, read a third time, and p.issed. The Public Trust Office Act Amendment Bill was passed. Tho amendments by the Legislative Council in the Province of Westland Bill were disagreed with, and a manager was appointed to confer with the Upper House.. Mr Andrew moved tho second reading of tho Provincial Council Legislation Appeal Act Amendment Bill to enable two or inoro member* of Council to submit tho trial of cases to the Supremo Court, to fp«t the validity of any Provincial Act. Mr Bunny moved that tho bill be* read fix months hence. Mr Fit zherbcrt opposed tho bill, which was thrown out on the voices. Mr Creighton's motion for tho production of the audit Capital and Profit and Los* account') covering the last four years of the Government Printing Office was carried. Mr Creightoai said the return presented to the Home was utterly bad. Ten years' experience convinced him that the Government printing coet ono-fourth mote than it would if done in any other office in the colony. He condemned tho Government tor competing with private capital, spoiling trade and preventing matters from being ablo to afford the latest improvements in plant nud machinery. He said printing was a tmde which employed more labour than any other industry in tho colony, and it wm injured by tho Government office, while tho colony reaped no advantage. Mr Harrison showed that the value «et on work done at the Governmont printing office, in the return furnished, was most excessive, and was evidently made up to show a good balance Ho proved its wrorthlessness by a tefcrenco to two items, viz, telegraph forms and other papers. Mr Kellys motion rospeotinn the- revenue* of tho Lniversities Reserves in Auckland and Taranuki being devoted to tho promotion of superior edueutuxn in thoso provinces, was amended t.o as to be applicable to the colony, and carried. Tlie Immigrants Land Bill is on to-night. Tho Immigrant* Lands Bill, to bo considered to-night, provides that every immigrant, paying hi* own passage to New Zealand, u entil led to a piece of land valued at°£2o for himself, and for each member of his family, of fourteen years of age and upwnrds, a like amount. For members under fourteen year* of age a le«s amonnt. Membors of a family to include »if,\ child, grandchild, nephew and niece of the head of the family. Tho applicant to make his claim within a open' tied number of da} 8 after hii nrrival. His name and the imiount of his claim aro to bo registered at any time within five years continuous residence. Any registered immigrant may apply for hind to be purchased Jor him to tho oxtont of Ins chum, specifying tho land he wiihes purchased for him. The hind uiiist be waste land of the Crown. If the land bo put up at suction and fetches a higher value thnn the immigrant is entitled to, ho muy notify other lane). The land selected mint bo in one block. A registered immigrant may occupy land ior two years. At the expiration of two years the immigrant is entitled to a Crown grant, on proof of two j ears' residence and that ono-flfth of the block is cultivated. If the land is unoccupied or uncultivated lor two jeurs, the right of occupation ceases. It is provided that if tho hi ad of the family dies within two years he may demi«e such land to his family as if the Crown giant lud l>oen issued. Forfeited lands are to be sold. 'I he inteiest of html for which a frown •.'rant has not been issued n» not capable of hang de\u,cd, rhai^ed, encumbered, or t.iken in execution. Regulations I may be nude as to grnuta of land to peisous cr association* introducing immigrants at their own oobt. The value of the land will go as a grant in the same proportion as to hpa. ls of families. Land may be purchased out of moneys applicable to humiliation, .

Tuesday. In the House, last night, the Premier, in movi«g the second reading of the Immigrants Land Bill, explained its provisions. The bill, he believed, might be made the means of inducing a most valuable class of immigrants to come out,, a class who would not cure to take advantage of assisted immigration, but wovld be willing t.> corno out at their own cost if they could obtain land to settle tjlpon. Begarding the general quwlini of immigration, ho kriew that aonif people were«h«».it nied with tho proqn ■ of immigration a d with the coin of the .Agent-Gonerul, but it was impossible for him to give tlie House more information than bad been afforded it. Indeed, ho thought more correspondence than was desirablo hid hwn published. There mus>t always be correspondence Ix'twviMi the Q-oTernmcnt and an officer of the standing of tho Agent-General which it woirid not bo desirable to publish. The Government had not laid on the tabla the latest despatch in reply to others from the Agent-Gtoneral. Some correspondence on the part of the Agent« General hod been couched in languago which should not liavo been adopted towards tho Government. While some members would blame the Agent-General, it should be remembered that ho had had very great difficulties to contend against, and beside* had suffered from v«ry severe illness, lie hoped members would not travel out of the subject before them, to discuss the fulfilment by the Agent-General of his duties. The Government were quite content to take upon themselves all responsibilities in the matter regarding the question of immigration. The Government were of opinion that there were too many irresponsible immigration agents in tho United Kingdom. It was proposed to reduce them, and liuve more of a class directly in the service of the Government, able to pet forth the advantages of the colony. The system of nominated immigrant* the Government were drairon* of pushing and extending, while at the same time the Agent-General would ha** to examine nominated immigrants as to fitness. The Government also intend to publish a pamphlet (now in preparation), in which the assistance of the various Sup. rintendents had been invited, and the pamphlet would be circulated throughout the United Kingdom. Regarding shipping the Government were aware of the loss the colony sustained 1 by reason of the monopoly. He was glad a local company hod started, and hoped it would succeed. The Government were as much averse to local as to horns monopoly, *nd would endeavour to foster a wholesomo competition. Mimstois felt the advantage to be gained by first-class ships being laid on tho line, so that those coining out might convey to their friends at home good impressions not only of the colony but of the passage out. The Government felt that they should have sole control of the immigration arrangements at home, the provinces contenting themselves with seeing to the immigrants on arrival. Mr McUillivray suggested the amount of land offered should be twenty acres, instead of the value of £20. Mr Reeve said the occupation clauses of the bill were such as would materially interfere with the* proper working of tho scheme. He would address himself to the general subject of immigration. It was a matter of surprise to him that decision on the *übject had ten. delijed so long. The true reason why the question had been shirked was because it was not to the interest of the Government to raise it. All side* of the Houso agree as to the importance of immigration, and the Premier* speeches showed he was aware of- its great importance. In the Houso toniglit MrVogel moved, "That the House approves of the arrangement entered into by Mr Russell with Mr Samuel* for a steam mail service via San Francisco, on the understanding that such srangement is as follows : — That the colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand jointly contract for a twelve-knot service between San Francisco and Sydney and San Francisco and Port Chalmera, for six years,[to be commenced within twelve months ; thirteen round trips to bo performed each year ; the boat* to be 2500 tons gross burthen, or equul to 2000. tons register. The route to be from Sydney and San via Kandavu, and to and from " Port Chalmers and San Francisco, via Lyttelton, Wellington, Auckland,, and Kandavu, calling off Napier each way. The boats from Sydney and from Port Chalmers alternately to proceed through to S»n Francisco, and the boats from San Francisco alternately to proceed through to Port Chalmers, and Sydney, transhipments to he made at Kandavu. The contractor to have all subsidies except those from the B itish Government and from the British colonies. New South Wales and New Zealand each to pay £40,000 per annum, »ud each to. receive one-half the contributions^ from other colonies, and each to receive its own share of Imperial postage." Mr Stafford moved as an amendment, "That the steamers should call at Tlmaru on the t-amc plan as Napier." He spoke strongly against the remission of Webbs penalties, when the utter insufficiency of tho service was remembered. Mr Rolleston supported Mr Stafford's amendment. Mr Bunny thought the coastal part of tho service unnecessary. .After several other members had spoken to the que«tion,MrSt afford withdrew the amendment, having done justice so fac to his constituents. Possibly, he said, the Fijian iervice would be continued. But the Government resolution was not taken on division. The amendment was lost by -11 to 12.